SYY
Sysco Corporation
Food Distribution
Market Cap$35.12B
5Y Perf.+32.9%
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Stock Comparison
SYY vs CHEF
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CHEF
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc.
Food Distribution
Market Cap$3.27B
5Y Perf.+441.6%
SYY vs CHEF — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SYY | CHEF |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Food Distribution | Food Distribution |
| Market Cap | $35.12B | $3.27B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $83.57B | $4.26B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.74B | $79M |
| Gross Margin | 18.5% | 24.3% |
| Operating Margin | 3.6% | 3.8% |
| Forward P/E | 16.0x | 36.7x |
| Total Debt | $14.49B | $1.18B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.07B | $121M |
SYY vs CHEF — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SYY
CHEF
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sysco Corporation (SYY) | 100 | 132.9 | +32.9% |
| The Chefs' Warehous… (CHEF) | 100 | 541.6 | +441.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SYY vs CHEF
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SYY leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SYY
Sysco Corporation
The Income Pick
SYY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 37 yrs, beta 0.47, yield 2.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.47, current ratio 1.21x
- Beta 0.47, yield 2.8%, current ratio 1.21x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
CHEF
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc.
The Growth Play
CHEF is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 9.4%, EPS growth 27.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 16.7%
- 394.5% 10Y total return vs SYY's 84.3%
- 9.4% revenue growth vs SYY's 3.2%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CHEF | 9.4% revenue growth vs SYY's 3.2% |
| Value | SYY | Lower P/E (16.0x vs 36.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | SYY | 2.1% margin vs CHEF's 1.9% |
| Stability / Safety | SYY | Beta 0.47 vs CHEF's 0.63 |
| Dividends | SYY | 2.8% yield; 37-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CHEF | +31.2% vs SYY's +7.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SYY | 6.4% ROA vs CHEF's 4.1%, ROIC 15.7% vs 7.7% |
SYY vs CHEF — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SYY vs CHEF — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSYYLAGGINGCHEF
CHEFThe Chefs' Warehouse,…
2leads
SYYSysco Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CHEFMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CHEF4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SYY5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SYY5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CHEF6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
SYY1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CHEF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SYY is the larger business by revenue, generating $83.6B annually — 19.6x CHEF's $4.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.1% (SYY) to 1.9% (CHEF). On growth, CHEF holds the edge at +11.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SYYSysco Corporation | CHEFThe Chefs' Wareho… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $83.6B | $4.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.0B | $419M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.7B | $79M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.0B | $81M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +18.5% | +24.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +3.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.1% | +1.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | +1.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.7% | +11.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.4% | +60.0% |
CHEF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SYY leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 19.7x trailing earnings, SYY trades at a 59% valuation discount to CHEF's 47.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SYY's 11.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CHEF's 18.7x.
| Metric | SYYSysco Corporation | CHEFThe Chefs' Wareho… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $35.1B | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $48.5B | $4.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.66x | 47.71x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.98x | 36.71x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.36x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.63x | 18.70x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.43x | 0.79x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 19.34x | 6.11x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.72x | 37.23x |
SYY leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SYY leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SYY delivers a 80.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $81 in annual profit, vs $14 for CHEF. CHEF carries lower financial leverage with a 1.95x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SYY's 7.81x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CHEF scores 7/9 vs SYY's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SYYSysco Corporation | CHEFThe Chefs' Wareho… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +80.7% | +13.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.4% | +4.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.7% | +7.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.0% | +10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 7.81x | 1.95x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $13.4B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.1B | $121M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $14.5B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.35x | 3.92x |
SYY leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CHEF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CHEF five years ago would be worth $25,391 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,765 for SYY. Over the past 12 months, CHEF leads with a +31.2% total return vs SYY's +7.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CHEF at 32.0% vs SYY's 1.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SYYSysco Corporation | CHEFThe Chefs' Wareho… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +2.5% | +28.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +7.8% | +31.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.5% | +129.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.4% | +153.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +84.3% | +394.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.5% | +32.0% |
CHEF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SYY and CHEF each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SYY is the less volatile stock with a 0.47 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CHEF's 0.63 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CHEF currently trades 99.2% from its 52-week high vs SYY's 80.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SYYSysco Corporation | CHEFThe Chefs' Wareho… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.47x | 0.63x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $91.69 | $80.79 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $68.19 | $53.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +80.0% | +99.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.6 | 74.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.7M | 472K |
Evenly matched — SYY and CHEF each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
SYY leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SYY as "Buy" and CHEF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.3% upside for SYY (target: $90) vs 4.0% for CHEF (target: $83). SYY is the only dividend payer here at 2.78% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SYYSysco Corporation | CHEFThe Chefs' Wareho… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $90.44 | $83.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 30 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.8% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 37 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.04 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.6% | +0.5% |
SYY leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
SYY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CHEF leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallSysco Corporation (SYY)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SYY vs CHEF: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SYY or CHEF a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc.
(CHEF) is the stronger pick with 9. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 2% for Sysco Corporation (SYY). Sysco Corporation (SYY) offers the better valuation at 19. 7x trailing P/E (16. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sysco Corporation (SYY) a "Buy" — based on 30 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — SYY or CHEF?
On trailing P/E, Sysco Corporation (SYY) is the cheapest at 19.
7x versus The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. at 47. 7x. On forward P/E, Sysco Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SYY or CHEF?
Over the past 5 years, The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc.
(CHEF) delivered a total return of +153. 9%, compared to -2. 4% for Sysco Corporation (SYY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHEF returned +394. 5% versus SYY's +84. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SYY or CHEF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sysco Corporation (SYY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
47β versus The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. 's 0. 63β — meaning CHEF is approximately 34% more volatile than SYY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 195% versus 8% for Sysco Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SYY or CHEF?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc.
(CHEF) is pulling ahead at 9. 4% versus 3. 2% for Sysco Corporation (SYY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. grew EPS 27. 3% year-over-year, compared to -4. 1% for Sysco Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CHEF leads at 16. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — SYY or CHEF?
Sysco Corporation (SYY) is the more profitable company, earning 2.
2% net margin versus 1. 7% for The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SYY leads at 3. 8% versus 3. 7% for CHEF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CHEF leads at 24. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is SYY or CHEF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Sysco Corporation (SYY) trades at 16.
0x forward P/E versus 36. 7x for The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. — 20. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SYY: 23. 3% to $90. 44.
08Which pays a better dividend — SYY or CHEF?
In this comparison, SYY (2.
8% yield) pays a dividend. CHEF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is SYY or CHEF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sysco Corporation (SYY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
47), 2. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SYY: +84. 3%, CHEF: +394. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between SYY and CHEF?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
SYY pays a dividend while CHEF does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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